Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
Click a state. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Farmworkers, farm, ranch, and aquacultural animals (SOC 45-2093) employed 32,810 people in May 2025. The median pay is $36,670 a year ($17.63 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $27,360 and the highest-paid 10% more than $54,080. BLS projects its employment to change by -3.2% between 2025 and 2035 (about 26,600 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: No formal educational credential.
Highest median pay: Alaska ($50,450), West Virginia ($48,460), Hawaii ($47,050). Most jobs: Texas (3,750), California (3,600), Kansas (1,340).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $27,360 | $13.15 |
| 25th percentile | $31,020 | $14.91 |
| Median | $36,670 | $17.63 |
| Mean | $39,260 | $18.88 |
| 75th percentile | $45,700 | $21.97 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $54,080 | $26.00 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 202,100 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 195,700 |
| Change in jobs | -6,400 |
| Percent change | -3.2% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 26,600 |
| Self-employed share | 2.8% |
| Typical entry education | No formal educational credential |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Short-term on-the-job training |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 1,300 | 2.92 | $36,620 | $22,190 | $53,040 | -0% | 35% |
| Alaska | 40 | 0.61 | $50,450 | $35,560 | $80,260 | +38% | 34% |
| Arizona | 650 | 0.95 | $35,160 | $31,210 | $48,100 | -4% | 57% |
| Arkansas | 460 | 1.68 | $29,340 | $23,700 | $50,640 | -20% | 40% |
| California | 3,600 | 0.94 | $38,640 | $34,780 | $55,310 | +5% | 65% |
| Colorado | 1,270 | 2.09 | $39,740 | $32,120 | $57,160 | +8% | 55% |
| Connecticut | 90 | 0.25 | $35,140 | $34,010 | $49,390 | -4% | 53% |
| Delaware | 90 | 0.89 | $36,940 | $31,200 | $46,240 | +1% | 50% |
| Florida | 820 | 0.39 | $36,790 | $29,730 | $52,540 | +0% | 59% |
| Georgia | 690 | 0.67 | $28,410 | $21,880 | $59,890 | -23% | 64% |
| Hawaii | 160 | 1.23 | $47,050 | $39,160 | $57,100 | +28% | 50% |
| Idaho | 480 | 2.64 | $40,580 | $24,670 | $52,960 | +11% | 41% |
| Illinois | 450 | 0.35 | $33,840 | $31,200 | $49,240 | -8% | 47% |
| Indiana | 420 | 0.62 | $37,530 | $27,520 | $45,380 | +2% | 35% |
| Iowa | 1,240 | 3.77 | $36,480 | $28,950 | $50,540 | -1% | 32% |
| Kansas | 1,340 | 4.41 | $37,060 | $29,130 | $47,590 | +1% | 35% |
| Kentucky | 700 | 1.67 | $38,030 | $24,820 | $54,760 | +4% | 31% |
| Louisiana | 80 | 0.19 | $31,940 | $20,800 | $61,500 | -13% | 40% |
| Maine | 140 | 1.06 | $42,170 | $31,850 | $57,180 | +15% | 34% |
| Maryland | 310 | 0.53 | $41,760 | $31,200 | $64,340 | +14% | 49% |
| Massachusetts | 270 | 0.35 | $38,280 | $35,000 | $56,260 | +4% | 58% |
| Michigan | 750 | 0.80 | $32,660 | $27,440 | $50,470 | -11% | 43% |
| Minnesota | 580 | 0.93 | $46,020 | $23,150 | $79,990 | +25% | 34% |
| Mississippi | 290 | 1.19 | $37,430 | $20,800 | $84,390 | +2% | 32% |
| Missouri | 1,310 | 2.11 | $32,950 | $28,600 | $57,410 | -10% | 39% |
| Montana | 660 | 6.15 | $37,010 | $30,620 | $55,930 | +1% | 38% |
| Nebraska | 570 | 2.65 | $37,220 | $37,210 | $48,040 | +1% | 36% |
| Nevada | 210 | 0.66 | $31,700 | $28,530 | $47,040 | -14% | 65% |
| New Hampshire | 130 | 0.91 | $39,520 | $24,230 | $60,650 | +8% | 47% |
| New Jersey | 250 | 0.28 | $38,960 | $34,320 | $54,810 | +6% | 55% |
| New Mexico | 330 | 1.78 | $36,400 | $24,960 | $49,990 | -1% | 37% |
| New York | 530 | 0.26 | $34,860 | $32,240 | $50,770 | -5% | 56% |
| North Carolina | 910 | 0.87 | $38,750 | $29,050 | $54,960 | +6% | 41% |
| North Dakota | 130 | 1.42 | $40,320 | $32,950 | $46,550 | +10% | 29% |
| Ohio | 1,160 | 0.99 | $31,200 | $24,410 | $51,270 | -15% | 42% |
| Oklahoma | 420 | 1.16 | $33,670 | $20,560 | $57,980 | -8% | 37% |
| Oregon | 700 | 1.69 | $35,480 | $32,410 | $45,060 | -3% | 54% |
| Pennsylvania | 1,330 | 1.04 | $35,360 | $21,700 | $47,900 | -4% | 42% |
| South Carolina | 190 | 0.40 | $35,090 | $16,310 | $78,560 | -4% | 43% |
| South Dakota | 100 | 1.00 | $38,000 | $32,260 | $51,260 | +4% | 32% |
| Tennessee | 450 | 0.65 | $33,720 | $26,550 | $47,560 | -8% | 46% |
| Texas | 3,750 | 1.26 | $33,920 | $24,110 | $50,480 | -7% | 52% |
| Utah | 80 | 0.22 | $32,970 | $24,060 | $48,520 | -10% | 58% |
| Vermont | 80 | 1.24 | $40,730 | $31,490 | $74,860 | +11% | 39% |
| Virginia | 630 | 0.73 | $38,670 | $29,530 | $62,010 | +5% | 51% |
| Washington | 1,100 | 1.46 | $45,370 | $35,590 | $64,430 | +24% | 48% |
| West Virginia | 40 | 0.30 | $48,460 | $32,700 | $67,840 | +32% | 22% |
| Wisconsin | 930 | 1.50 | $32,970 | $23,320 | $50,550 | -10% | 42% |
| Wyoming | 470 | 7.94 | $38,920 | $22,560 | $47,760 | +6% | 31% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 320 | $47,950 | $23,150 | $80,010 | 0.77 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 410 | $44,930 | $36,140 | $59,010 | 0.94 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 380 | $44,300 | $38,060 | $59,510 | 0.75 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 370 | $42,910 | $34,850 | $63,440 | 1.15 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 340 | $42,590 | $34,240 | $62,550 | 1.00 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | 330 | $39,330 | $25,060 | $54,810 | 5.53 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 350 | $38,610 | $34,050 | $48,670 | 0.70 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 420 | $38,350 | $34,320 | $55,500 | 0.21 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 610 | $37,720 | $34,320 | $52,800 | 0.46 |
| Lancaster, PA | 430 | $36,670 | $27,540 | $47,160 | 8.09 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 460 | $35,850 | $26,180 | $52,370 | 0.66 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 470 | $35,710 | $31,340 | $48,100 | 2.03 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 600 | $35,030 | $26,340 | $54,130 | 0.70 |
The median is $36,670 a year ($17.63 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $27,360 and the highest-paid tenth over $54,080 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
32,810 in May 2025, and BLS projects -3.2% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: No formal educational credential (BLS).
Alaska, with a median of $50,450 (among states with published figures).